Good books.

These books are excellent.
Love in the House is not what you would expect. It offers a unique perspective on families and on child rearing. It's refreshingly different from any other parenting book I've ever read. As the Jeubs open up their lives, amazing insights are shared into those liberties they clearly enjoy. Extremely helpful techniques are offered for training children that go far beyond time-outs or corporal punishment. They are able to cut right to the heart of the matter of the issues parents face today and demonstrate that no matter how many children a family has, it is possible to experience tremendous joy and freedom in parenting.

Love in the Kitchen is an awesome (and I hardly ever use that word!) cookbook! Really, it's great. Many money-saving tips are included and the meals are hearty and nutritious, made from ingredients you probably already have on hand. I recently received it and read it through the first night like a novel, it's that entertaining! There are lots of "extras" included as Wendy answers that question we all want to know about meals and grocery planning for a family that size, "how do you do it?" Most of the recipes are for 'normal' sized families, so it could be useful in any home. It is already a must-have in our kitchen, and has found a permanent spot right on my counter top for easy access.

*And no, I did not receive any monetary reimbursement for endorsement of these products, only the satisfaction of fulfilling my duty as a friend and passing along a good thing to you ;-) Go ahead, click on the link above and take a look for yourself.*